Automatic train-stopping apparatus.



J. M. ROB.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOPPING APPARATUS.

im-mom APPLICATION FILED M-AY 20, 1913.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.a

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

figg. L l

@n uewkoz J. M. ROE.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN STOPPING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY zo, 1913.

1,089,267, Patented Mar.3,1914.

v z sHEsTs-gHmT 2L @gg/@mow 2 @h 2am 1@ @www JACKSONM. ROE, OF SUNNYSIIJE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF T JOHN ALEXANDER, OF SUN N YSIDE, WASHINGTON.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-STOPPING APPARATUS.

y To all whom t may concern connecte Be it known that I, JACKSON M. Ron, a

Ycitizen of the United States, residing at Sunnyside, in the county of Yakima and State of Washington, have invented newand useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Stopping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic train stopping apparatus and has particular application to an electrically operated apparatus of this character.

In carrying out the present invention, 1t is my purpose to provide an automatic train stopping apparatus whereby a. train enter- -ing the danger zone will be automatically brought to a gradual standstill so that the transmission of shocks and'jars to the variousy cars of the train, incident to such train being brought to a sudden standstill, will be eliminated thereby .obviating unnecessary wear on the equipment and reducing the cost "of maintenance to normal.

It is also my purpose toprovide an apparatus of the type set forthr which will embody among other features, a resistance grid includin a plurality of resistance sections d 'in series located on the roadway vand capable of swinging movement and a train carried mechanism composed of a sourceof energy and a shoe ada ted to ride hover the resistance grid when t e latter is elevated or .in active position, av controller being also included in the train carried mechanism and lconnected with such shoe andsource of energy, in series with an electric circuit whereby when the grid is in' active position, the shoe will ride over the same and gradually cut the resistance out of the circuit so that the controller will operate graduallyand bring the train to a stop.

Furthermore,-I aim to provide an apparatus of the characterdescribed wherein by means of 'a number of'fcontact fingers ar- -ranged along the trackwayand appropriately spaced apart and adapted to be swung to an active position simultaneously, and a -train carried mechanism including a shoe adapted to engage the contact fingers successively when such fingers are in active v position, a source of energy, and a controller, and an electric circuit including sald fingers,

Patented Mar.v3,

l19.14- seriai No. 768,785.

shoe, source of energy, and controller, ne

controller will vbe energized in such 'manuell-1.2,v

standstill gradually over the Aactive conas to bring tlie'train to a when such train passes tact fingers.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in scope of the claims.l 1

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic viewaof a track portion ofmy improved train stopping apparatus. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the train carried mechanism of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view of the controller, parts being shown in-elevation. Fig. 4 is a sectional view ,through the valve in the train line air of the controller. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through the Casin of' the resistance grid, one of the contact fgingers of such `grid being shown in elevation. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view through the operating device for throwing the resistance grid to active position.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the numerals l, l designate parallel lines of rails of a trackway. Arranged between the lines of rails l, l of the trackway and disposed longitudinally thereof is a resistance grid composed, in the present instance, of aY longitudinal shaft 2 having each end thereof journaled within a bearing carried by one side wall of a easing 3. Fixed to -th-e ,shaft 2 and insulated therefrom as at 4 are collars 5 appropriately spaced alo-ng the length of the track and provided with tangentiallyextending contact fingers 6 each adapted to normally lie Within a casing 7 resting upon the ground and having lthe shaft passed through the opposite' side walls adjacent to one end thereof. Inthe present instance, each finger 6 carries on the under iside thereof a resistance section or coil 8 having one terminal pipe and `u nder the influence tapped onto the respective finger and the opposite end fastened to the next adjacent finger, the sections of resistance decreasing progressively in size from one end finger to the other in the-direction of trafiic as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 of the drawings,

g 1,089,267 Y i mechanism for the shaft comprises a'sole?A noid magnet l0 disposed below each casing Sand having the core 11l thereof extending into the casing through the lower wall thereof and connected through the medium' of a link12 with the free extremity of an arm i3 keyed upon the respective end of the shaft 2, the solenoid magnets lbeing con! neet-ed in series in an electric circuit composed of aconductor 14, a portion ofthe line of rails 1 opposite from that to which is suitably fastened to the rear end of the the resist-ance grid is tapped onto, -and a conductor 15 tapped'onto such line of rails. This solenoid circuit in the present instance, is controlled by a manually operable switch 16 located in the train despatchers oiliceor at some other suitable point. It willbe understood, however, that, the switch may be in the form of an automatic circuit closer connected up to the 'signal blades or semaphore of the train controlled block signal system of the railway, as will be readily understood by those skilled' in the art, so that when the block signal is at danger the circuit through the solenoids will be closed and the resistance grid thrown to an active position.

-The train carried mechanism of my inipi'oved stopping apparatus comprises, inthe present forni oi my invention, a source of energy as a battery 17, a Contact shoe 18 carried by the bottomof the locomotive or other car and adapted to'ride'over and engage the lingers when the grid is in active or eleva'ted position, and controller 19 composed, in the present instance, of'a solenoid magnet 2O having the coi-021 thereof formed at the outer end with an outwardly extending shank 22 carrying a pin 28 disposed within a slot 24 formed in the free extremity of a 'lever connected to the sioni of a valve located in the trainline air pipe and adapted when the solenoid is energized to bleed the train line air and so eifect an application of the brakes to the wheels. ln the present instance, the valve under the influence of the controller 19 comprises a casing 26 connected in the train line air pipe at diametrically opposite points as at 27, 27 and having the inner Awall thereo't' cut out as at 28 contiguous the outlet or discharge side of the casing and a semicircular turn plug 29 rotatably,

mounted within the casing and having tl e stemthere of connected to tlielevei 25 and adapted when rotated to permit a gradual escape ot all', the turn plug 29, in the opening et the valve, establishing communication between the main air reservoir and the at 65 niosphere by lway of the train line air pipe' the cut away portion 28 of the valve casing to eiieet a service application and in its continued movement establishing a direct: path 'for the train line air to the atmosphere 70 so as to bring about, in effect, an emergency application. The shoe 1S, source of energy 17, and the controller y19 are connected in series in an electric circuit including a conductor SO'having one `terminal tapped onto 75 the shoe 18 and the opposite end connected to one side of the batteryglli, a `conductor 31 leading from the opposite` side df the battery through the'coii of the solenoid 4'magnet 20 and tapped onto vthe axle of the dar, a porvtion of the respective line of rails 1 and the resistance grid back to the shoe. p

In the present instance, an air cylinder 32 solenoid magnet 20 and is provided with a 85 plunger 33 the rod 34 of which is'fastened to the inner end of the core 2l of the solenoid so that when the core is drawn inwardly under the. action of the magnet to open the valve and bleed the train line air pipe, the

air within thecylinder-"will becoinpressed to counteract the inward pull of the magnet. From the foregoingv description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, inode of operation i and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. Assuming the circuit of the solenoids for operating the shaft 2 to be closed at the switch 16, it will be seen that 'rotary movement will be transmitted to 100.

the' conductor 31, the coil of the magnet 2() of -the controller, the respective axle and wheel of the car, a portion of the line of rails 1, the sections of the resistance grid and back to the other side of the battery by way of the shoe 18 and conductor 30. Then the slice 18 contacts with the iirst finger all of theV resistance sections are in circuit with the Vbattery and as alconsequeice, the solenoid 20 120 does not receive the full strength oi' the eur-Y rent so that the core 21 moves into the solenoid magnet such a distance that the reduction of the train line air pressure, incident to the opening of the valve, is unappi'eciable 125 'so far as bringing the trai". to an immediate stop is concerned, tli`eair within the cylinder and compressed by the plunger 33 deinto the magnet. However, as the train conmoved to full open posit-ion. Thus, it will i the precise detail-s of construction herein ance grid located on the roadway and inshoe and controller in series whereby when it may be found desirable to employ an or- Ispirit o i the invention.

troller, an electric circuit including said terinining the distance that the core 21 movestinues in its pat-h of movement, the sections of resistance 8 are-gradually cut out of the circuit and the current strength flowing through such circuit increased so that the valve in the train line air pipe is eventually be seen that when a train enters the danger zone, the brakes will be applied to the wheels in such manner as to bring the train to a gradual stop thereby eliminating unnecessary vibration of the equipment.

If desired, lthe resistance sections 8 may be elinii-iiatedfajndeach finger 6 tapped onto the respective line of rails 1 so that when the fingers are in active position and a train passes thereover the circuit of the controller will be alternately opened and closed whereby the valve in the train line air pipe will be manipulated after the fashion of the engineers brake valve and the train line air pressure gradually reduced. In this eventl dinary form of `turn plug valve in place of the valve hereinshown and described.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I desire to have it understood that I do notl limit or confine myself todescribed and' delineated, as modificationA and Variation may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the I cl'aim: l. In ,train stopping apparatus, a resist-- cluding a plurality of sections of resistance connected in series, means for swinging said grid to active position, a train carried mechanism comprising a sourceof energy, a shoe adapted to ride over said grid in the. active position of the latter and contact therewith, and a controller, an electric circuit -including said grid, source of energy,

the ,grid is in active position, said shoe will ride over the same and gradually cut the resistance out of the circuit so that thecontroller will operate and bring the train to a gradual stop. 2. In train stopping apparatus, a resistance grid located on the roadway and incliiding a plurality of sections of resistance connected in series, electrically noperated iiicaiis for swinging said grid to active position, a-train carried mechanism comprising a source of energy, a shoe adapted to ride over said grid in the act-ive position of the latter and contact therewith, and a congrid, s oiircc'of energy, shoe and controller iin1 series whereby when the grid is in active position, said shoe will ride over the same and. gradually cut the resistance out of the circuit so that the controller will operate and bring the train to a gradual stop.

3. In train stopping apparatus, a plurality of contact fingers located on theroadway and suitably spaced apart along the track, a plurality of-resistance sections interconnecting said ngers and connected in series thereby, means for swinging said fingers upwardly simultaneously, a train carried mechanism comprising a source of energy, a shoeadapted to engage said lingers successively in the active position of the latter, and a controller, an electric circuit including said contact fingersfsource Vof energy, shoe and controller in series whereby when the fingers are in aictiveposition said shoe will ride over the same-'and engage vthe individual fingers successively to gradually energize said ,controller and bring the, train to'a stop. i .f4..fIn train stopping apparatus, a resist" ance grid located on the roadway and in# cluding a plurality of sections of resistance connected in series, means for swinging said grid to "active position, a train carried mechaniincomprising a source oflenergy, a shoeadapted to ride over said grid inthe active position thereof, and a controllerg'an electric circuit including said grid, source of enl'erg-y, shoe and controller in series wherebyq when the grid is in active position said* shoe will ride over the same and grat ually cut the resistance out of the circuit so thattlie controller will operate gradually, a Valvc between said valve and controller.

5. In train stopping` apparatus, aI resistance grid located on the roadway and including a plurality of sections of resistance connected in series, means for swinging said grid to active position, a train carried mechanism comprising a' source of energy, ashoe adapted to ride over said grid in the active position thereof, and a controller, an

in the train line air pipe, and connections electric circuit including said grid, source of energy, slice and kcontroller in series whereby when thc grid is in active position, said slice will ride over the same and cut the resistance out of the circuit so that the controller will operate gradually, a valve in the train line air pipe and adapted wheno'perated initially to cdeet a service applica tion and subsequently an emergency application, and connections between said valve' and controller.

gradually 6.' In train stopping apparatus, a plurality" of contact fingers located on the roadway and suitably spaced apart along the tracln,

a plurality of resistance sectionsfintercpnneeting said fingers and connected 1n series thereby, means for swinging saidfingcrs upwardly simultaneously, a'train carrie@ 'ita VIIJ

mechanism comprising a source of'ene1gy,'said controller' and bring the train to a 10 :L sl1oe`'adapted to engage said fingers sucstop, and u dash pot connected to said conoessively in the active position of the latter, troller and adapted to counteract the sume. and a controller, an elect-ric circuitincluding In testimony whereof I :nliX my signal-ure f' said contact fingers, source of energy, shoe in presence of two Witnesses.

and controller in series whereby when the Y JACKSON M. ROE. lingers are in active position said. shoe will Witnesses: Y ride over the same and engage the individual LEvIs L. YODER,

fingers successively to gradually energize O. L. BoosE. 

